IQALUIT, NU, Nov. 9, 2012, 2012 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) --
Affiliated Companies Report 'Crystal Clear' Voice Quality and Download
Speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s from SES Satellite AMC-9; Service Rollout
Expected Next Summer at Affordable Prices
Ice Wireless and Iristel concluded
successful trials this week for a new satellite-based telephone and
Internet network to be launched in Canada's North. The new network was
first demonstrated October 31, 2012 in Iqaluit to members of the
Northern Communications and Information Systems Working Group at a
Canadian Department of National Defence meeting to discuss challenges
with northern infrastructure.

The trials were conducted using SES AMC-9, a 24 transponder C-band
satellite whose footprint comfortably covers Nunavut and which is also
capable of covering other rural and remote communities in Canada's
North.

"This is the first time anyone has field tested an SES satellite in
Canada's North," said Samer Bishay, President of Ice Wireless and
Iristel. "What we experienced in Iqaluit was absolutely amazing. Our
call quality for our fixed line and mobile phone tests was crystal
clear, and we demonstrated broadband Internet speeds of 100 Mbits/s on
a 2.4 meter dish, which is just as good, if not better, than any other
satellite covering the North today. We are thrilled with the results."
Space and earth segment connectivity will be managed by Juch-Tech, a
Hamilton-based earth station whose experience in providing reliable and
cost-effective Internet solutions to Africa has convinced the company
that Northern Canada has fallen behind many of the world's poorest
regions in terms of telecommunications service.

"Juch-Tech has already established satellite connectivity across Africa,
so we thought to ourselves, why aren't we doing this in our own
backyard " said Walt Juchniewicz, President of Juch-Tech.

"Communication is a fundamental necessity in all our daily lives, and
Canada's North has fallen behind the rest of the world. Arctic
communities, government departments, Canada's military, emergency
response agencies, schools, hospitals and residents all deserve to have
better telephone and Internet access."
The successful telephone and Internet trials utilized a broad range of
technology and related partnerships, including NovelSat modulation
technology, XipLink acceleration performance enhancement technology,
and Atop HD video streaming and formatting for GSM/IP-based mobile
devices. Onsite support was provided by Coman Arctic, a logistics
company based in Iqaluit that has worked with Ice Wireless for the past
two years to bring competitive telecommunication services to Nunavut.

In light of the successful telephone trials, Ice Wireless is now moving
ahead with its roll out of 3G service to Iqaluit in Summer 2013, which
will include download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. At the same time,
Iristel plans to expand its CLEC footprint to offer a range of
telephony services including fixed line home telephone and long
distance services.

About ICE
Established in 2005, Ice Wireless ("ICE") is a telephone and Internet
company that provides service to rural and remote communities in
northern Canada. ICE provides a full range of affordable and
leading-edge voice, video and data services, including GSM cellular, to
Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, Aklavik, Behchoko and Whitehorse. In
terms of population, the Ice Wireless network covers 70% of the
Northwest Territories and 78% of the Yukon. ICE cellular customers can
use their phones across Canada through a roaming agreement with Rogers
Wireless and Fido. For more information please visit www.icewireless.ca.

About Iristel
Established in 1999, Iristel Inc. ("Iristel") was granted a carrier
license by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) in 2000 and is one of Canada's largest VoIP service
providers with a coast-to-coast network. Iristel offers a complete
portfolio of IP services in Canada, including hosted IP PBX, virtual
faxing, virtual roaming, and global IP trunking products and services.